Section 250. Spinal cord injury research board

1. A spinal cord injury
  research board is hereby created within the department for  the  purpose
  of  administering spinal cord injury research projects and administering
  the spinal cord injury research trust fund created pursuant  to  section
  ninety-nine-f of the state finance law. The purpose of research projects
  administered  by the board shall be neurological research towards a cure
  for such injuries and their effects. The  members  of  the  spinal  cord
  injury   research   board   shall   include   but   not  be  limited  to
  representatives  of  the  following  fields:  neuroscience,   neurology,
  neuro-surgery,   neuro-pharmacology,   and  spinal  cord  rehabilitative
  medicine. The board shall be composed of thirteen members, seven of whom
  shall be appointed by the governor, two of whom shall  be  appointed  by
  the temporary president of the senate, two of whom shall be appointed by
  the  speaker  of  the  assembly,  one  of whom shall be appointed by the
  minority leader of the senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
  minority leader of the assembly.
    2. Board members shall be reimbursed  for  ordinary  travel  expenses,
  including  meals  and  lodging,  incurred  in  the performance of duties
  pursuant to section two hundred fifty-one of this title.
    3. The terms of board members shall be four years  commencing  January
  first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine.
    4.  At  the  end  of  a term, a member shall continue to serve until a
  successor is appointed. A member who is appointed after a term has begun
  shall serve the rest of the term and until a successor is  appointed.  A
  member  who  serves  two  consecutive  full four year terms shall not be
  eligible for reappointment for four  years  after  completion  of  those
  terms.
    5.  A  majority  of  the full authorized membership of the board shall
  constitute a quorum.
    6. One member of the board shall be chosen by the governor to serve as
  chairperson.
    7. Meetings of the board shall be held at least twice a year  but  may
  be  held  more  frequently  as  deemed necessary, subject to call by the
  chairman or by request  of  a  majority  of  the  board  members.  Board
  meetings  shall  concern, among other things, policy matters relating to
  spinal cord injury research projects  and  programs,  research  progress
  reports,  and  other  matters  necessary to carry out the intent of this
  title.
    8. Members of the board  shall  be  indemnified  pursuant  to  section
  seventeen of the public officers law.